Smiling enhances our Immune system

“More than happiness is at stake. Dr. Murray Grossan, an ENT-otolaryngologist looks at the study of how the brain is connected to the immune system. He asserts that it has been found “over and over again” that depression weakens your immune system, while happiness boosts your immune system.”

“What’s crazy is that just the physical act of smiling can make a difference in building your immunity,” says Dr. Grossan. “When you smile, the brain sees the muscle [activity] and assumes that humor is happening.”

Smiles are contagious

“This is because we have mirror neurons that fire when we see action,” says Dr. Eva Ritzo, As its name suggests, mirror neurons enable us to copy or reflect the behavior we observe in others and have been linked to the capacity for empathy.”

“Try smiling into the mirror. Dr. Ritzo recommends smiling at yourself in the mirror, an act she says not only triggers our mirror neurons, but can also help us calm down and re-center if we’re feeling low or anxious.”

So SMILE and pass on a dose of neurochemical happy

*Dopamine increases our feelings of happiness. Serotonin release is associated with reduced stress. Low levels of serotonin are associated with depression and aggression. Low levels of dopamine are also associated with depression.

14 thoughts on “How to trick your brain into thinking you are happy”

Thank you for this interesting post. I am sending a big smile your way and will continue to smile frequently. Funnily, meditation suggest that you keep a small smile on your face as you meditate. So, back ups to the theory everywhere.
Apart from which, smiling is more fun than frowning.

Peta,
THANK YOU FOR REPOSTING!!!! We are putting in a lot of time and effort (as YOU know how much goes into blogging) to share the information we’ve accumulated over the years and keeping up with current research. You make us smile with your help.
Peggy & Judy

My grinning lips, oh dopamine,
How easy ‘tis to fool my brain
Convinced I am a happy fan
I’ve won luck with jubilance
Grant me please one more wish
A skinny figure on a dessert dish
If you can use chemicals as a tool
You must convince this lady fool
Chocolate cake is not so good
Green veggies are delicious food
So when I next get on the scale
It doesn’t yell, “Get off me, whale”